Newport Beach City Council District 1 · Nov 3, 2026
Joe Stapleton
Candidate for City Council District 1 (incumbent)
Joe Stapleton, the incumbent, is running for Newport Beach City Council District 1 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Tina Babajanians.
Vote-by-mail ballots available · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayCouncilmember for District 1 since 2022 and the city's mayor in 2025. A former harbor commissioner, he wants to revitalize Newport Harbor and keep public safety funded.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Newport Beach Councilmember/Businessman
- Endorsed by
- Newport Beach Police Officers' Association, Newport Beach Firefighters' Association, Republican Party of Orange County, The Lincoln Club of Orange County, Mayor Lauren Kleiman and Councilmembers Noah Blom, Michelle Barto, Robyn Grant and Sara Weber, among others. Joe Stapleton campaign site
- Campaign website
- stapletonfornewport.com
Mayor Kleiman and Councilmembers Blom, Barto, Grant and Weber are listed as endorsers on Joe Stapleton's campaign site. Joe Stapleton campaign site
Where Joe Stapleton stands: positions on the record
Police headquarters4 sourced positions
In March 2026 he advocated continuing all police headquarters site studies and spoke against eliminating options prematurely, according to the minutes.
Own statementNewport Beach City Council minutes, March 10, 2026 · Mar 10, 2026
Voted yes on continuing to evaluate Civic Center Park for a new police headquarters, including design and an environmental report (passed 6-1, March 2026).
Council voteNewport Beach City Council minutes, March 10, 2026 · Mar 10, 2026
Voted yes on architect and environmental-report contracts for the Civic Center Park police headquarters study, and no on a public-outreach firm (July 2026).
Council voteNewport Beach City Council minutes, July 28, 2026 · Jul 28, 2026
As reported by the Daily Pilot
Said he had favored adding community members to the council's police headquarters committee but was voted down, and that the process was not handled correctly.
“Do I believe this has been handled correctly? No, I do not,”
Forum answerDaily Pilot · Sep 3, 2026
Ad hoc committees1 sourced position
As reported by the Daily Pilot from the Sept. 3 Chamber of Commerce forum; not a direct quote
Said he had favored including more community members on the council's police headquarters ad hoc committee.
Forum answerDaily Pilot · Sep 3, 2026
Public safety1 sourced position
Voted no on denying creation of an Ad Hoc Public Safety Committee (denial passed 4-3, Sept. 2026).
Council voteNewport Beach City Council minutes, Sept. 8, 2026 · Sep 8, 2026
Citizen initiatives2 sourced positions
Voted yes on setting Nov. 7, 2028 as the election date for the term-limit, district-voting and open-meetings initiatives (passed 5-2, Aug. 2026).
Council voteNewport Beach City Council minutes, Aug. 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026
Voted yes on calling the court-ordered Nov. 3, 2026 special election on the three citizen initiatives (passed 4-3, Sept. 2026).
Council voteNewport Beach City Council minutes, Sept. 11, 2026 special meeting · Sep 11, 2026
Housing2 sourced positions
As reported by the Daily Pilot
Defended the council's state-approved housing plan as protection against state intervention.
“The biggest threat to quality of life here in Newport Beach is Sacramento.”
Forum answerDaily Pilot · Sep 3, 2026
Voted yes to place the Responsible Housing Initiative on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot (passed 7-0, Nov. 2025).
Council voteNewport Beach City Council minutes, Nov. 18, 2025 · Nov 18, 2025
Homelessness1 sourced position
Lists an updated anti-camping ordinance and an expanded homeless liaison team among his actions on homelessness.
Own statementJoe Stapleton campaign site
Surf park2 sourced positions
Voted yes to approve the Snug Harbor surf park at 3100 Irvine Avenue (passed 6-0, Oct. 2025).
Council voteNewport Beach City Council minutes, Oct. 28, 2025 · Oct 28, 2025
After a referendum petition qualified, voted yes to repeal the surf park's General Plan amendment rather than hold an election (passed 6-0, Jan. 2026).
Council voteNewport Beach City Council minutes, Jan. 27, 2026 · Jan 27, 2026
What Joe Stapleton said vs. how Joe Stapleton voted
Police headquarters
In their words
Said he had favored adding community members to the council's police headquarters committee but was voted down, and that the process was not handled correctly.
Sep 3, 2026 ·As reported by the Daily Pilot ·Daily Pilot · Sep 3, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on continuing to evaluate Civic Center Park for a new police headquarters, including design and an environmental report (passed 6-1, March 2026).
Mar 10, 2026 ·Newport Beach City Council minutes, March 10, 2026 · Mar 10, 2026
Voted yes on architect and environmental-report contracts for the Civic Center Park police headquarters study, and no on a public-outreach firm (July 2026).
Jul 28, 2026 ·Newport Beach City Council minutes, July 28, 2026 · Jul 28, 2026
Housing
In their words
Defended the council's state-approved housing plan as protection against state intervention.
Sep 3, 2026 ·As reported by the Daily Pilot ·Daily Pilot · Sep 3, 2026
On the record
Voted yes to place the Responsible Housing Initiative on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot (passed 7-0, Nov. 2025).
Nov 18, 2025 ·Newport Beach City Council minutes, Nov. 18, 2025 · Nov 18, 2025
Also running for City Council District 1
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